Breece Hall just said the quiet part out loud about his Jets future

For weeks, Hall’s name had been floating around as one of the biggest storylines leading up to Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. The Jets reportedly received multiple offers for their star running back, but ultimately opted against trading him.

One of those offers reportedly included a fourth-round pick from the Kansas City Chiefs, but the Jets were steadfast in their stance, holding out for at least a third. The Jets maintain that they want to keep Hall — unfortunately, the feeling may not be mutual.

NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported midday Tuesday that Hall wanted to be traded, news that surfaced just hours after the Jets had already shipped out two of their franchise cornerstones, Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams.

The Jets ultimately didn’t grant his supposed request. When Hall spoke with reporters on Wednesday, he denied asking for a trade, but when pressed on whether he wanted one, the former second-round pick dodged the question entirely, refusing to give a clear yes or no.

Breece Hall’s response to trade rumors only makes things more awkward

That kind of response doesn’t exactly scream commitment. Hall may not want to publicly say it, but it seems abundantly clear that he doesn't want to remain with the Jets past this season, at least as of now.

The Jets received a number of inquiries about Hall's availability prior to this week's deadline, most notably from the aforementioned Chiefs. With Hall set to hit free agency in the offseason, one might wonder if the team should have taken the best offer they received.

The Jets still have leverage with Hall, even if he’s reluctant to sign an extension in the coming months. They could use the franchise or transition tag to keep him under team control for at least another year, ensuring they don’t lose one of their top offensive playmakers for nothing.

The franchise tag for running backs is projected to be worth over $14 million, which might mean that the seldom-used transition tag — which allows a player to negotiate with other teams while giving the Jets the right to match any offer — could come into play. That tag is only worth around $11 million in 2026.

Still, the Jets would probably prefer to avoid a scenario where their star running back is unhappy in Florham Park. Unfortunately, years of losing and offensive incompetence — coupled with the Gardner and Williams trades — clearly haven't sat well with Hall.

The Jets have a few months to try to smooth things over and change Hall’s mind, but right now, it seems pretty clear he wants out, even if he won’t say it out loud. And in reality, that's the last thing the Jets need as they attempt to establish a new identity under Aaron Glenn.